Genera 60, species ca. 600 (19 genera, 62 species in the flora): nearly worldwide; most diverse in subtropics and tropics.

Hypnaceae are taxonomically problematic; the family once held a high proportion of pleurocarpous species, but as genera are monographed, they are often placed in other families. The distinctive hypnoid peristome has been used as a significant feature, but this is not entirely reliable.